Ayo Dosunmu's Breakout Season Meets Uncertain Chicago Bulls Future

Ayo Dosunmu is stocking up this season, and the timing couldn't be more bittersweet.

The cardiac bench unit of the Chicago Bulls has delivered top-three offensive production around the league, consistently cleaning up messes left by starters or sustaining momentum when it matters most. Within this environment, Dosunmu's rise epitomizes both the team's depth and his own maturation over five years in the making.

Many of us have witnessed him check in off the bench with increasing authority. In a blowout victory over the LA Clippers at the United Center on Tuesday, Dosunmu erupted for 18 points, draining four of five attempts from beyond the arc. He followed that with 19 points against Brooklyn, helping the Bulls avenge losses from their previous two meetings with the Nets (admittedly without Michael Porter Jr.). Throughout a 10-game stretch this month, Dosunmu has averaged 16.9 points while arguably posting his career-best basketball.

What stands out the most is his three-point shooting. After Tuesday's win, Dosunmu is converting a stunning 46.1% from deep — a leap of over 13 percentage points from last season's 32.8% — on a higher volume of 4.2 attempts per game. This isn't a small sample fluke; it's genuine offensive evolution.

Since the Bulls selected him 38th overall in the 2021 draft, the hometown kid from Chicago has steadily refined his game. He carved out a rotation role as a rookie, showing defensive versatility and court awareness beyond his years. By year three, he'd become a legitimate sixth-man candidate, providing steady minutes as both a playmaker and perimeter defender.

Then came the setback. Last season, a shoulder injury sidelined Dosunmu for a significant stretch, derailing his momentum and forcing an arduous recovery process. Questions lingered about whether he'd regain his explosive first step and shooting confidence. However, his rising season has emphatically answered those doubts. Dosunmu returned with an elevated form that has weaponized Chicago’s arsenal.

But just as Dosunmu hits his stride, trade rumors swirl. Reports indicate the Bulls and Timberwolves have engaged in discussions, with big names like Coby White frequently mentioned as a potential piece. According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Minnesota has also expressed interest in Dosunmu and Tre Jones as potential return pieces in any deal.

Here's the dilemma: Dosunmu is finally becoming the player Chicago hoped he'd be when they drafted him. He's publicly expressed his desire to remain in his hometown for the long haul. But evaluating his trade value, he represents exactly the kind of two-way contributor championship teams covet — a versatile defender who can create offense, knock down threes and thrive in any role. Of course, the Bulls front office wouldn’t ignore that trait.

So will the Bulls keep him and cement him as a foundational piece for whatever comes next? Or will they cash in on his rising value before the deadline?

While fellows in Bulls Nation celebrate his ascension while healing the pain from a long-and-on-going mediocrity, the decision rests with the front office. As February 5 looms, Dosunmu's future hangs in the balance.